Kavanaugh protesters put Senate on notice: 'We will not forget when it comes to midterms'

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As US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh prepares to appear before a Senate committee to defend against allegations of sexual abuse, one of his accusers appeared outside her home. It’s not clear if Deborah Ramirez will also testify. (Sept. 26)
AP

WASHINGTON – Thousands of protesters were rallying across the nation Thursday in opposition to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court and in solidarity with the university professor whose lurid and appalling accusations against the federal judge have fueled outrage on both sides of the controversy.

Kavanaugh supporters also were taking to the streets as the nominee and Christine Blasey Ford prepared to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a crucial hearing that could determine the fate of the contentious nomination.

Foes of Kavanaugh wanted to “make sure our voices are heard and our concerns are raised,” Women’s March co-founder Tamika Mallory told USA TODAY. “And to make sure senators understand that while they may still vote to confirm him, we will not forget when it comes to the midterms and beyond.”

Survivors of sexual assault and their supporters were gathering in Washington, D.C., and in locations across the nation, including state offices of U.S. senators, to share testimonies of assault.

More: Kavanaugh gets support from conservative Liberty University

More: Kavanaugh hearing represents turning point for  #MeToo

More: Two men say they, not Brett Kavanaugh, had encounter with Ford

Protests Monday in Washington resulted in 128 arrests by Capitol Hill police. On Wednesday, 28 more arrests were made. More than an hour into he hearing, however, no arrests had been made Thursday. Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said police had a “comprehensive and robust” security plan.

Women’s March organizers said Thursday’s “non-arrest” rallies were aimed at letting senators know that “#WeBelieveChristine and demand that they #CancelKavanaugh” by voting against his nomination.

Hundreds of women descended on Capitol Hill to protest the nominee, many gathering in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building next to the Dirksen building where the hearing was taking place. 

“We can’t have someone who is accused of sexual violence nominated and voted into the highest court,” said Tali Israeli, who was protesting Kavanaugh. “We can’t have a bunch of white men deciding whether a woman was sexually assaulted.” 

If Kavanaugh is confirmed, Israeli said, women like her will only double down.

“It’s an unfortunate step back,” she said. “I just think we need to fight harder.” 

Jen Jinks was also protesting Kavanaugh – and what she sees as the broader issue of discrediting women who tell survivor stories.

“There’s a national epidemic of disbelieving women, of women’s words not being enough,” she said. “This is just one more look into that. 

Ford, 51, was 15 in 1982 when she says she was at a party where Kavanaugh, then 17,  forced her down on a bed and tried to remove her clothes while holding his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. She said she feared Kavanaugh might accidentally kill her before she escaped.

Mallory stressed that her group has opposed Kavanaugh before allegations by Ford and other women became public.

“We didn’t just start with the sexual assault stories,” she said. “We knew, based on his voting record for a number of issues, that he was problematic. And so now that these particular stories are public, it has only really proven what we already knew, and why we were there from the beginning.

“This is not an upstanding citizen, not someone who is trustworthy, not someone who respects women,” Mallory added. 

Concerns over the Kavanaugh nomination are not being lodged solely by women. A social media campaign #AssaultFreeSCOTUS is asking men to record a short video explaining why they stand for Ford and post it on social media.

Mallory said the revelations by Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University and researcher for Stanford, have inspired more women to speak out and discuss their own survivor stories.

“This is exactly what the #MeToo movement is about,” she said. “It is about women whose stories have not been told, or even if they have been told, they have not received the support that they deserved.”

Kavanaugh supporters also want to be heard. Hundreds gathered early Thursday morning in Lower Senate Park to rally in favor of the nominee, waving signs that read “I Stand with Brett.”

“I’m concerned that the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh are not substantiated and there seems to be a strong political motive,” said Ardi Skinner, an area resident who attended the rally. “It demeans the process of helping women who have been assaulted.” 

Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director for the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, said she wants to see a fair hearing.

“I certainly want the truth to come out,” Severino said. “What we have seen so far is allegations that have not been corroborated.” 

Contributing: Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press

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